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The Success Boston initiative was launched in 2008 to improve Boston public high school graduates' access to and success in college, particularly for members of underrepresented groups. This report summarizes results from the second of three reports examining the classes of 2013 and 2014 and examines whether and how coaching affects students' short-term college outcomes. The study employs the strongest design possible to support causal claims about the effects of Success Boston Coaching (SBC) on students. Key findings include: (1) SBC-coached students are 11% more likely than non-coached students to persist into the second year of college, and are 21% more likely to persist into the third year of college than non-coached students; (2) the college grade point averages of SBC-coached students is 8% higher than that for non-coached students, and SBC-coached students spend 10% more time in good academic standing; and (3) coached students are 9% more likely to renew their FAFSA than non-coached students. [For the first report, see ED582088.]

Estimating treatment effects for subgroups defined by post-treatment behavior (i.e., estimating causal effects in a principal stratification framework) can be technically challenging and heavily reliant on strong assumptions. We investigate an alternative path: using bounds to identify ranges of possible effects that are consistent with the data. This simple approach relies on fewer assumptions and yet can result in policy-relevant findings. As we show, covariates can be used to substantially tighten bounds in a straightforward manner. Via simulation, we demonstrate which types of covariates are maximally beneficial. We conclude with an analysis of a multi-site experimental study of Early College High Schools. When examining the program's impact on students completing the ninth grade "on-track" for college, we find little impact for ECHS students who would otherwise attend a high quality high school, but substantial effects for those who would not. This suggests potential benefit in expanding these programs in areas primarily served by lower quality schools.

This paper presents results from the longitudinal experimental study conducted on North Carolina's early college model described in an earlier paper. The primary purpose of this paper is to present the impact of the early college model on outcomes related to postsecondary enrollment. The specific research questions driving this study include: (1) What is the impact of the early college model on students' enrollment in postsecondary education? (2) What is the impact on students' attainment of postsecondary credentials? One of the main ways the early college model accomplished its goal was by enrolling high school students into college classes as early as ninth grade. By the time students were in their junior or senior years of high school, they were taking mostly college classes with other college students. The early college also provided explicit instruction in college readiness skills and provided extensive supports to students. The study results showed early college is increasing students' access to postsecondary education, driven primarily by their experience in high school. The increase in enrollment is primarily in the area of two-year colleges because most of the early colleges are located on community college campuses. This increase in two-year enrollment is not happening at the expense of four-year enrollment, given that there is a slight increase in that arena as well. Tables and figures are appended. [For the related article: "The Small, Stand-Alone Early College: Impact on High School Outcomes," see ED567039.]

North Carolina's Early College model is the subject of an IES-funded eleven-year longitudinal experimental study that utilized a lottery process to assign early college applicants to either treatment or control groups. This paper presents findings related to high school outcomes. The primary goal of the early college model is to increase the number of students who graduate from high school and who continue on to and succeed in college. The specific research questions addressed in this paper include the following: (1) What is the impact of the early college model on the percentage of students successfully completing a college preparatory course of study in high school? (2) What is the impact of the early college model on the number of college credits earned while in high school? (3) What is the impact of the early college model on students' graduation from high school? (4) How does the impact vary for specific sub-groups including those who are low-income, first in their family to go to college, members of underrepresented minority groups, and those who entered high school below grade level? Results from this study show that the Early College High School model is having positive impacts on students' college preparatory course-taking, their attainment of college credits, and their graduation from high school. Tables and figures are appended. [For the related article: "The Small, Stand-Alone Early College: Impact on Postsecondary Outcomes," see ED567041.]